Prairie Queen Elementary reached a milestone in inclusive education by earning national banner recognition as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School, becoming the first elementary school in the Papillion La Vista Community Schools district to receive this prestigious designation. The school celebrated this achievement during an all-school assembly that highlighted their commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students.

The recognition comes after Prairie Queen successfully met all 10 national standards of excellence established by Special Olympics in the critical areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. These standards, developed by a national panel of education and Special Olympics leaders, require schools to demonstrate measurable progress in providing meaningful sports and activities that bring together students with and without disabilities. The comprehensive evaluation process ensures that recognized schools have embedded inclusive practices throughout their educational programs.

Under the strong leadership of Principal Pam Lowndes and her dedicated staff, Prairie Queen has cultivated a school culture that celebrates diversity and provides equitable opportunities for all students to participate in sports, activities, and leadership roles. This inclusive approach not only benefits students with disabilities but enriches the entire school community by fostering empathy, understanding, and meaningful friendships across all ability levels.

Prairie Queen now joins Papillion La Vista High School and Papillion La Vista South High School as Unified Champion Schools within the district, creating a continuum of inclusive practices from elementary through high school. This achievement reflects the district's broader commitment to ensuring that every student, regardless of ability, has opportunities to participate fully in school life and develop the social skills necessary for lifelong success.